Book Review: Infidel by Ted Dekker

Title: Infidel
Author: Ted Dekker
Publisher: Thomas Nelson, Nashville
Copyright: 2007
Pages: 245
ISBN: 978-1-59554-363-9
Genre: Christian fantasy

In this second novel of "The Lost Books" series, Dekker picks up the story told in Chosen, on the very night that the first book ends. Although Johnis and his three friends celebrate a victory, Johnis cannot rest in the pleasure of his new hero status. He suddenly suspects that the Horde may not have killed his mother but, instead, taken her prisoner. Even though the suspicion haunts him relentlessly, Johnis doesn't have a clue where to find her. Johnis only knows he must seek her somewhere among the infidel Horde. Unfortunately, he doesn't know where to find the Horde.

Desperate for answers, Johnis consults a forbidden power. What he sees frightens him but also convinces him that his mother is alive. His three friends, however, are not so certain. Yet these four are bound to each other, even if it means chasing the infidel Horde.

Infidel raises the stakes. More lives at risk. An extra Forest traitor. Supreme betrayal. An interview with the Dark Priest of the infidel religion. Choices. Many choices. Dekker's signature plot twists and honorable but flawed protagonists keep Infidel on par with his previous novels.

Characters take action they are directly instructed not to take. Yet everything somehow works out. I found myself wondering, "How might Dekker have written this story if his characters made the right choices?" It's a funny question, considering that Dekker's characters in Infidel aren't real.

But all good fiction makes use of characters who act real. If Dekker is to portray characters that seem real in the least, they will make choices they shouldn't. They will misorder their priorities. They will act selfishly. On the flip side, Dekker also portrays Elyon as one who uses even their poor choices to work out His ultimate plan.

The Bible teaches us this same truth. Romans 8:28 is a verse Christians often use to comfort each other when disaster strikes. It says that in all things, God works for the good of His people, whom He has called. But I don't think "all things" refers only to circumstances that lie totally outside our control. I contend that "all things" really means "all things," including our sin, our stupid choices, our rejection of what we know is right.

Could we save ourselves some misery if we would always obey? Definitely. Does our disobedience cause God's plan to fail? Definitely not. But sometimes we forget the truth, because the truth is not always so easy to see. In Infidel, Dekker reminds us of the truth.